Petunia plant named &#39;KLEPH13227&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  petunia  plant particularly distinguished by having single, salmon colored flowers with a pronounced vein, medium, compact plant form and an upright, mounding plant habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEPH13227’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of petunia, botanically known as Petunia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPH13227’. ‘KLEPH13227’ is a selection from a cross-pollination of the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2008-0218’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male petunia line ‘PH-2002-V 133’ (unpatented).

In July of 2009 the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2008-0218’ and the proprietary male petunia line ‘PH-2002-V 133’ were cross pollinated in Latina, Italy and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in April 2010 in Latina, Italy and named ‘KLEPH13227’. In April 2010, ‘KLEPH13227’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture. ‘KLEPH13227’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture in Stuttgart, Germany and Tenerife, Spain.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy.

1. Single, salmon colored flowers with a pronounced vein;

2. A medium, compact plant form; and

3. An upright, mounding plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show an overall view of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a basket. The plant is about 5 months-old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in July 2013.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant grown in a pot. The plant is about 3 months-old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2013.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPH13227’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on thirteen-week-old plants grown indoors in Latina, Italy under greenhouse conditions in March of 2014. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.         -   Species.—Petunia hybrida.         -   Common name.—Petunia.         -   Variety.—‘KLEPH13227’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2008-0218’.         -   Male.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2002-V 133’. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Medium, compact.         -   Habit.—Upright, mounding.         -   Height (from top of soil).—15.0 cm to 18.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—About 25.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—13 to 14 weeks             in winter, 7 weeks in spring.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.         -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,             white roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Average number (basal).—About 15.0 cm.         -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the             tip).—About 12.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.3 cm.         -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.3 cm.         -   Stem color.—RHS 144B.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate at the base of the stems, opposite on             the flower stems.         -   Length.—About 5.0 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B Lower surface:             RHS 138A.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137B Lower surface:             RHS 138A.         -   Texture.—Both upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.         -   Venation color.—Both upper and lower surfaces: RHS 144A.         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.7 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Color: RHS 144B             Texture: Slightly pubescent. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Irregular oblong.         -   Length.—About 4.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.8 cm.         -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 184A.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Permanent flowering             during summer time.         -   Inflorescence type.—Cymose.         -   Number of flowers per node.—One.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About one             week.         -   Fragrance.—Weak.         -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 petals fused at the base             Shape: Funnel form Diameter (flower face): 5.8 cm Depth             (total length of flower): 6.0 cm Throat/Funnel: Length: 2.5             cm to 3.0 cm Diameter (at opening): 1.5 cm Texture: Both             inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous Color, immature             flower: Face/Margin: RHS 51C Upper surface: RHS 51B and RHS             N34A (vein) Lower surface: RHS 65C Color, mature flower:             Face/Margin color: RHS 62A Upper surface: RHS 62A and RHS             53A (vein) Lower surface: RHS 63C.         -   Petals.—Color: Inner surface: RHS 62A and RHS 53A (vein)             Outer surface: RHS 63C Apex: Obtuse mucronate Base: Fused             Margin: Entire Strength of waviness: Weak Degree of             lobation: Weak.         -   Calyx arrangement.—Actinomorphic, composed of 5 sepals.         -   Sepals.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower surface: RHS             137C Length: 2.0 cm Width: 0.4 cm Shape: Linear Apex: Acute             Base: Attenuate Margin: Entire Texture: Both upper and lower             surfaces: Slightly pubescent.         -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A Length: About 3.0 cm Diameter: 0.2             cm Texture: pubescent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5 Shape: Needle with elliptic head             Filament: Length: 1.6 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm Color: RHS 36D             Anther: Shape: Elliptic Color: RHS 158D Length: 0.2 cm             Diameter: 0.25 cm Pollen: Color: RHS 11D Amount: Moderate.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: 1.9 cm Stigma color:             RHS 145A Style color: RHS 145C.         -   Fruit and seed set.—No fruit and seed set observed.         -   Disease and pest resistance.—No disease and pest/insect             resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH13227’ is a distinct variety of petunia. ‘KLEPH13227’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male Parent Trait ‘KLEPH13227’ ‘PH-2008-0218’ ‘PH-2002-V 133’ Flower shape Single flower Double flower Flower color Salmon with vein Salmon White

‘KLEPH13227’ is most similar to the commercial petunia plant named ‘Famous Salmon Pink’ (unpatented). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait ‘KLEPH13227’ ‘Famous Salmon Pink’ Plant habit More mounding Uneven habit with dominant stems Flower color and More pronounced Less pronounced vein, stronger shape vein petal lobation than ‘KLEPH13227’ 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of petunia plant named ‘KLEPH13227’ as shown and described herein. 